by Maddy Barone
The gate was opened for them and the men carried the supplies to the shed while she rode Flora around to the back of the den to dismount. Rain, one of the Pack, came to take the horse, but Rose unsaddled the mare and groomed her before going into the den. Her cat, Mitzi, was asleep on the counter in the tack room, and Rose paused to brush her, murmuring praise for the mouse she had caught and presented to her this morning. Having delayed as long as she could, she entered the den through the kitchen door.
“Rose,” said Snow happily from his position in front of the stove, where he vigorously beat potatoes with a wooden spoon. The rich scent of baking chicken rose from the oven. “You’re back at last. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Sorry.” She tried to make her voice casual as she paused to wash her hands at the sink. “I stayed to help Renee and Sammie get supper ready at the House.”
Snow pointed with his chin. “They’re all waiting for you in the rec room.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Dread dragged her stomach down to her feet. Anticipation flung it up back up to her throat. For goodness sake, she wished her stomach would settle on one of them. She left the kitchen, walked through the cafeteria to the rec room across the hall. The rec room was her favorite place in the den, big and spacious with colorful rag rugs scattered over the hardwood floor, and tables and chairs placed by the two large windows. Clustered around the fireplace were the armchairs she and Carla usually sat in. Right now Taye sat on the floor in front of Carla in her big stuffed leather chair, and in the chair Rose usually occupied sat the slick stranger who had once been a boy who had demanded she be his mate.
Rose froze at the sight of him. He had taken off the coat and tie, but still wore the silvery slacks and bright blue shirt. In the crook of one arm he held Little Feather, and Taye and Carla’s two-year-old daughter, Patia, hung on his knee. He smiled at the baby, tickling his round belly, while bouncing his knee to make Patia laugh.
Rose’s breath caught with unbearable longing. He looked like a loving father playing with his children. It was the perfect family picture, and she wanted so much to be part of it.
She must have made some sound, because Sky looked over at her, the smile draining away from his face. “Rose.”
Taye reached for Little Feather and directed a hard stare at Rose. “You’re late,” he said in his calm, I-Am-The-Alpha voice that warned he wasn’t pleased. “We expected you at least an hour ago.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.” That was the truth. “Sammie was just starting supper when I stopped by the House and I stopped to chat with her for a little while. Time got away from me.”
That part wasn’t quite true. Time hadn’t gotten away, but she hadn’t wanted to leave for the den until she had told her friend Sammie everything. Sammie had given her a basket of apples to peel and core while they talked. Sammie’s advice was to give Sky a chance. Rose glanced at him now, divested of children, sober-faced, and watching her. She should say something to him. Shouldn’t she?
“You’re in my chair.” Her face flushed. Dang it, that wasn’t what she wanted to say. “I mean, it’s a nice chair, don’t you think? Mikey and Alex made it for me. And it’s really comfortable. I…um…”
She trailed off, miserably aware she was babbling, as he stood up. My, he’s tall. Not quite as tall as his big brother Shadow, but about two inches taller than Taye. She glanced down at his feet, still wearing the black leather shoes, and amended it to an inch taller than Taye. That made him about six inches taller than her own five feet eight inches.
“We need to talk, Rose,” he said quietly, almost gently. “Alone.”
“It’s almost time for supper,” Carla protested.
“It won’t take long,” Sky said. “Rose, let’s walk outside.”
She walked to the den’s front door and stepped out. Her stomach tightened into a knot. At least it wasn’t jumping. What did he want to discuss that wouldn’t take long? Was he going to tell her that he released her and she could marry anyone she wanted? Now her stomach commenced a wild bouncing.
He started off toward Sand and Amanda’s house, moving in a slow, easy saunter. Rose stuffed her hands into her front pockets and walked beside him. She decided that no matter what he said, she wouldn’t argue, or raise her voice, or above all, cry. She sent a sideways glance at him and found his face pensive.
“Do you know why I’m here?” he finally asked.
She forced her hands to relax. “No.”
She caught his glance at her and her heart sped up. He looked a lot like many of his cousins, men she saw on a daily basis, so why did he seem so much more handsome than any of them? “You sent me a letter,” he reminded her.
Her hands clenched. “Months ago.” She almost managed to sound casual. “You never answered it.”
“No, and I should have.” He stopped and turned to face her. “I’ve been very busy for the past several months, but that’s no excuse for not writing. I’m sorry.”
His polished, polite, mild tone niggled at her. No wolf ever used that kind of tone. It reminded her, of all things, of some of her mother’s smooth politician friends. Even at fifteen, she had been able to tell when they were using their voices and their words to manipulate people. She swallowed and dug her thumbnail into the pad of her finger as a reminder to remain calm.
“I forgive you.” Which might, or might not, be a lie, depending on what else he said.
The smile that flashed over his face seemed briefly genuine, before smoothing into something else, something practiced and bland. “Rose, you are as sweet as your name.”
She didn’t smile back. “Let’s cut to the chase. Just tell me why you’re here.”
He lifted his hand, as if to brush her cheek.
She stepped away. “Why did you come, Sky?”
“Because I had to. I received a letter from Taye. He’s allowing men to court you.”
“Is that a problem?” She smiled sweetly. “I waited for you a long time, and now, when Taye is finally allowing me to move on with my life, you’re back.”
Some of the blandness fell away from his face. “You’re my mate.”
“Yeah? But I’m tired of waiting for you. I want a family.”
“Sweetheart,” he began, but she threw up a hand and wrestled with her temper.
“No,” she said, amazing herself with her level voice. “You don’t know me well enough to call me that.”
“Does that man I found you with this afternoon call you sweetheart?”
She swallowed at the silky menace in his voice. “Of course not. I barely know Jasper.”
“He’d like to know you better.”
Calm, she reminded herself. Don’t yell. “I think you’re right.”
She turned and began strolling again, leaving him to catch up if he wanted to. He did, with one long step, and grabbed her arm. “Don’t walk away from me, mate.”
“Don’t snarl at me.” She jerked her arm free and folded both her arms over her chest. “And let’s quit dancing around the issue. What do you want?”
“Rose, you are my mate.”
“And?” she demanded. “What exactly does that mean? You’re here to court me?”
The suave polish came back. “I’m your mate. No one can ever love you as well as I can. All I ask is a chance to prove that to you.”
Pretty words, she sneered inwardly. Pretty and empty. “I’m willing to give you the chance to court me, but I haven’t accepted your mate claim yet.”
He smiled and took her hand. “Perfect. How could I ask for more? Shall we go in to supper?”
* * * *
He was too smooth. Too slick. Too fake. Rose brooded on it during supper. She sat at the head table, next to little Patia, who was in a booster chair at her mother’s left. Sky was on the other side, between Taye and Jay. He didn’t ignore her, but most of his attention was on his cousins, catching up with family news. She couldn’t blame him for that. They were on opposite ends of the lo
ng table, so conversation wasn’t easy, and there was plenty of news to take in. So many of his cousins had found their mates and begun their families that just learning all the new names took quite a bit of time. Too bad Mel and Snake were visiting her family down in Kansas. And Rose really wished Ellie were here instead of visiting the Clan. Ellie was her very best friend, and she could be relied on to give sympathy and good advice. And being married and mated to a wolf, she could understand better than Sammie the intricacies of building a relationship with a man like Sky.
Then again, Sky didn’t really act like a wolf warrior. He remained fully dressed, even to his shoes. He ate with very elegant table manners and was polite. He had snarled at Jasper this afternoon, but other than that, he acted like a slick, city stranger.
“Five children?” he said, when Paint told him about his older brother’s family. “Last I heard it was three. Glory and Shadow have five children now?”
“It’ll probably be six one of these days,” shouted Alex from a table close by, amid laughter.
White Horse nodded solemnly, “He says he needs more sons to be able to protect Victoria. He dotes on his daughter.”
“Who doesn’t?” called Standing Bear.
“And Dan has settled down too,” Sky said with a smile in his voice. “Rose wrote me about that. I thought he was a lone wolf if there ever was one.”
“Tami is perfect for him,” Carla commented. “She has a ranch in Colorado where they spend most of their time these days. They have two boys, six and four years old, and their little girl is two now, the same age as Patia. Dan doesn’t like having little Olivia exposed to strangers, but he and Tami are coming for a couple of weeks before winter.”
Sky looked around. Rose could see him if she leaned forward and turned her head to look past Carla and Taye. She wondered what he saw when he looked at the three rows of long tables filled with relatives he hadn’t seen in eight years.
“It’s good to be back and see you all,” he said, and Rose thought he was completely sincere at that moment. “Tell me all the news. Des has his own pack? What about Stag? Rose told me in a letter he convinced Sherry to accept his claim.”
Taye settled into story telling mode, lifting his wide-eyed daughter from Carla and setting her under his arm. “Des is alpha of the Plane Women’s House Pack now. He mated Connie only a few months after you left. Stag and Sherry divide their time between Des’s pack and the Clan. Red Wing and Marissa are with Des, and so are Hawk and Renee. You remember the women’s plan to open a restaurant? They did it. The Eatery is doing well.”
“I’ve heard of it,” Sky said with a nod. “Even in Omaha the Eatery is well known. How large is Des’s pack? Are the women from the plane all married and living elsewhere?”
“Nah, some have married, and brought their husbands into the Pack. Others have gone to live with their husbands in Kearney and other places. Some haven’t married yet. Connie says a woman shouldn’t have to marry, and Des has his hands full making sure no one bothers ’em. Des has eighteen men from our pack and the Clan with him, and the Clan sends their young men there to learn to behave with townies. Renee puts them to work cleaning dishes and clearing off tables. In fact, your brother Raven is there right now.”
“What?” Sky sat up straight in the chair. “Raven is in Kearney?”
Taye nodded, and Rose said, “I talked to him this afternoon.”
Sky glanced at his wrist, and Rose blinked, feeling strangely disoriented. That was a gesture she hadn’t seen in years. Nobody in the Pack or Clan checked the time by a watch. He stood up. “I’m going into Kearney tonight to catch up with Raven. It’s not too late.”
Rose opened her mouth to say something, but shut it again. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. Even on the other end of the table, Sky must have caught it. He stood up and walked to stand behind her chair. Her shoulder blades twitched when he loomed over her, so she stood up to face him.
He lowered his lips to her ear and murmured, “Sorry to leave you right way like this.”
This close, his scent wrapped around her like the aroma of apple pie fresh out of the oven. It was a clean scent, spicy and alluring. She made herself breathe normally instead of leaning close to inhale deeply. “That’s all right. You’re probably dying to see your brother, and we have plenty of time to spend together.”
Something about his smile made her heart speed up. It was so white, and his dimple deepened so charmingly, that she smiled back. “Thank you,” he said. “All of tomorrow is yours.”
He kissed her cheek. It was just a quick brush of warm lips, but Rose’s heart leaped into double time. By the smug look on his face, he knew it. Drat him.
As Sky left the dining room, most of the men watched him. Then looked at her. Rose hated that she was blushing. “Come here, Patia. Let’s go play in the rec room.”
“No,” said Carla. “Let’s us girls go to the children’s room.”
“Sure,” said Rose easily, but her heart sank just a little. Carla was going to grill her.
In the children’s room, the Lupa took her time, going to fetch her son from his cradle and sitting down with him in the rocking chair to nurse. She waited until Patia was involved in play before beginning the inquisition.
“So,” she said brightly. “Sky’s back.”
“Yeah,” Rose agreed. “Too bad Colby isn’t here. He always wanted to meet Sky.”
For a moment it looked like Rose’s attempt to sidetrack Carla worked. She sighed, longing for her oldest child plain on her face. She shook it off. “It was so kind of Sand and Amanda to take Colby with them to visit the Clan. It’s been a nice break for me, with Little Feather taking up so much of my time right now.” She brushed her lips over her son’s head. “They are coming back when the Clan moves to the winter camp. It won’t be long before we see them again.”
Rose watched Little Feather’s tiny hands press against his mother’s breast as he nursed. What did it feel like to cradle a son or daughter to your breast and watch them suckle? She snapped her attention back to Carla at the next question.
“It would be nice for Sky to see his parents again. I’m sure he wants to. Does he plan to live here at the den or with the Clan?”
Rose opened her mouth, thought for a moment, and closed it. “I don’t know. It didn’t come up.”
“Maybe he’s waiting to see what you would prefer.” Carla lifted Little Feather to the other breast. “He is here to court you, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.” It had taken a bit of effort to get it out of him, but yes, he was here to court her. She tried to remember what he had said in that short time before supper. “He said no one would ever love me as well as he could.”
“That’s a nice start to a courtship,” Carla commented.
Rose shook her head. “Too nice.”
“Too nice?”
“Yeah. Slick. Glib. You know what I mean?” Rose saw Carla’s confusion. “Did you see the way he dresses? The way he acts?”
“He’s been in Omaha for nearly eight years.”
Rose cocked an eyebrow. “I never knew him well, but he’s not at all how I remember him. He was a hot head. He’s nothing like I imagined he would be.”
Carla’s smooth brow formed the crease that always appeared when she was thinking hard. “Well, the last time we saw him, he was only seventeen years old. Now he’s twenty-five. He’s matured in a city that everyone says is cosmopolitan.”
“Swanky,” Rose said, smiling at the memory of Sand’s disapproving description of Omaha. Her smile faded. “Sky came back only because Taye wrote to him and told him he was allowing me to be courted.”
“Does it matter why?” Carla lifted Little Feather to her shoulder to burp him. “He’s here now.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong, Rose? Don’t you want him to court you?”
Rose raised a hand as if to stroke the baby’s small head, let it fall. “I want that.” She nodded at Little Feather. “I want to hold my o
wn baby in my arms. I want a family.”
The Lupa nodded. “I know. I’ve seen it in you for the past few years. Don’t you think you could have that with Sky?”
“Maybe. But I’m not sure I like him.”
“Is it because of what he did in Omaha? The bordello?”
Rose hesitated. “I don’t think so. Quill and Sand have both tried to explain to me about his whorehouse. I don’t think I understand how a wolf warrior could run a whorehouse, but Amanda was happy there. She said Sky was the best employer a woman in Omaha could have. So I don’t think that’s it. Or…” She threw up her hands. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s part of it. He’s just so…smooth. I don’t trust him.”
Carla lifted startled eyes to stare at her. “You don’t think he would hurt you?”
“No.”
“Do you find him attractive?”
Rose ignored the heat that flooded her cheeks. “Oh, sure, he’s good-looking.”
“That’s not quite the same thing. One thing all us mates have in common is the attraction we feel for our men.”
The heat multiplied. “He’s hot, okay? But he’s not the only hot guy around here.”
“Do you mean Jasper?” Carla laughed at her glare. “You know wolves are bigger gossips than most people think women are. I know all about your lunch with Jasper.”
“Of course you do.” Rose made a face. “I had a nice time this afternoon until Mr. City Slicker got off the train. I suppose I’ll need to cancel my Saturday night supper with Jasper.”
“Yeah, Taye will have one of the men tell him.”
Rose winced when she imagined how the message would be delivered. “I should write a note to him. I’d like to explain in person, but I don’t suppose I can.”
Little Feather slept, a small milk bubble trembling on his lower lip. Carla smiled down at her son before looking back up at Rose. “Sky wouldn’t like that much. Are you going to let him court you?”
“Yeah.” Rose heaved a sigh. “I guess I owe him that much. But if don’t like him, I’m not accepting his mate claim. That’s final.”
“No one would argue with that. If you give him an honest chance and you decide you don’t want him, then you can look for another man to give you a family.”